Meijer LPGA Classic Headlines June Pro Tournaments in Michigan
11th annual event features golfers Thompson, Lewis, Henderson and more
By Tom Lang
I give a lot of credit to Meijer for bringing pro tour golf back to Michigan over a decade ago.
This June 10-15 will be the 11th annual event that draws as many fans as any other tournament on the entire LPGA Tour schedule. The spectator numbers equal the majors.
Go back to 2009. When the Buick Open played its last stroke, pro tour golf ended in the state of Michigan – until Meijer took a big chance and announced a new pro tournament from scratch about six years later.
The void was over – and not long after along came the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic; another LPGA event, the Dow Championship; plus the Ally Challenge on the senior circuit; and there also was the PGA Senor Championship every other year in Benton Harbor. All the great activity for pro golf tours in Michigan can be traced back to that decision by Meijer.
“Well, you know, number one, Grand Rapids is our hometown, but it really goes back to community,” said Cathy Cooper, who has been with the tournament since its inception, initially as a former Vice President at Meijer and now as the Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic, about why they launched the event in Grand Rapids.
“We looked at what West Michigan likes. It's golf. And you think about the clubs here and the amount of golf that goes on just from a family and personal level, so we knew there was a love of that.
“We also knew that this community embraces helping families and giving and supporting what people do. So, the two (perspectives) came together for us very logically. It just all seemed very natural right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Blythefield Country Club is a wonderful host. They have a beautiful course, and the players love it. So, it's just all very natural as it comes together.”
Simply Give:
The number one factor of community giving for this tournament is that the proceeds go to the Simply Give program – a charitable offering by Meijer that restocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest, wherever there is a Meijer store. Purchasing credits also allow the pantries to shop for and keep fresh food (meat, proteins, fresh fruit and vegetables, etc.) on hand for those in need, instead of only stocking non-perishables.
The Meijer LPGA Classic has generated over $12 million for Simply Give in the first 10 years, and in mid-May Meijer kicked things off for 2025 on Media Day by contributing $250,000 to the program. Regular everyday shoppers can also help support Simply Give, with matching funds coming from Meijer at various times of the year.
“Since the program's inception in 2008, over $100 million has been raised to support food pantries and families in need and putting food on shelves of food pantries,” Cooper said. “So yeah, it's big. And you think about what's going on in the world, the economy with families right now, and it's not been easy for them. The numbers are increasing and we want to help.”
The Pros are Coming:
Despite her announcement last year to retire form LPGA Tour competition, superstar Lexi Thompson is retuning to Grand Rapids to play.
“She's a fan favorite here and we are a favorite of hers,” Cooper said of Thompson. “She's won this tournament, which is really neat. Brooke Henderson (a two-time winner), will be back, Stacy Lewis will be here, and Lilia Vu who won our tournament last year. We've got a really, really strong field again and we're pretty pleased with what we're seeing.”
The field also includes 2022 winner Jennifer Kupcho, and two-time major champ Brittany Lincicome, who told me the attraction to Grand Rapids from her LPGA counterparts, “is the whole package.
“Meijer does a great job running this event,” Lincicome added. “The golf course is beautiful. The town is so welcoming. We feel so loved here. I think it’s everything put together in a nutshell and the top players want to come play this event and it’s why they get such a good field.”
Lincicome added her thoughts on the state of the LPGA Tour: “I would love to be a rookie again playing for all this money. The Tour is doing so great, obviously with so meany young, great players coming up, and it’s obviously building the game and the Tour is doing fantastic. We’re playing for record-breaking money and it’s just in a great place. I’ve always wanted to leave the game better than it was when I started, and I can very easily say it’s in a way better place than when I started.”
Things to Do – and Eat:
If you are a ‘foodie’ then the Meijer LPGA Classic is the place for you. Each year they add to the list of community restaurants and chefs preparing all sorts of cuisine you’d never expect at the golf tournament – and all come at great prices, and in some cases all you can eat. This is not your father’s hot dog and a beer golf environment.
For the budget minded, the Grand Taste Concessions are located throughout the course and sell various food and beverage items, all for $4 or less.
Other high-level yet reasonably-cost options include:
The Kraft Heinz Pavilion is an all-inclusive food and beverage experience featuring food and beverage items and an exclusive viewing area, new this year between the 17th green and 18th tee. The Kraft Heinz Pavilion will be open Thursday through Sunday. Daily tickets cost $40 each for adults and $10 each for children, ages 5 and under. Each youth ticket must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Guests can expect: All-inclusive food and beverage items Tiered and lounge seating for optimal viewing of the on-course action.
A lively, golf-centric atmosphere located between 17th tee and 18th green with upscale seating areas and televisions playing live updates from the course.
The award-winning J. Brewer's and Frederik's hospitality areas will once again offer food fans a premium all-you can-eat culinary experience curated by Meijer chefs and local restaurants right off the fourth fairway. The venue is named in honor of Blythefield Country Club's founder, Joseph Brewer, and Frederik Meijer, co-founder. J. Brewer's | Frederik's is open Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15. Daily tickets cost $85 each for adults and $10 each for children, ages 5 and under and offer access to Frederik's by Meijer food experience, offering different menu items every day. All-you-can-eat access to exceptionally crafted food and beverage items, featuring local restaurants and breweries.
“We've added a huge three-sided screen inside of Jay Brewers this year and will allow for better golf viewing if you're inside the hospitality area,” Cooper explained. “Then Discovery Land, that's our great place for kids. We've got Mattel coming on board with Barbie and Jurassic Park properties … plus a Broadway Theater Guild that's going to be focused on Lion King, but lots of daily giveaways and food for kids. That's a hot spot for the tournament, especially Father's Day weekend, so we've got a lot going on.”
Fathers are a Focus:
Since the final round is played on Father’s Day, in celebration June 15, fathers will be granted free general admission to the course, a tradition that’s been extended for several past years. Military personnel (active, retired, reserve, veteran) and a plus one will also be granted free general admission all four days of tournament play with proper identification.
In addition to the general admission tickets at $10 per day, tournament-long tickets (valid Thursday through Sunday) cost $25 per person.
Tickets to the Meijer LPGA Classic are only available through the official website at www.meijerlpgaclassic.com
